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A look into the dark

A new technique allows for precise tracking of tiny particles known as dark excitons in time and space. This breakthrough has the potential to improve the quality and efficiency of solar cells and other devices.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 29, 2025

A new state between metal and insulator

Researchers at TU Wien discovered a new energy band that remains connected by an 'umbilical cord' when one allowed energy range splits into two separate bands. This phenomenon is bound to occur in materials with large electron interaction, opening up a new perspective on technologically highly interesting classes of materials.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 20, 2025

Thin lenses have a bright future

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have successfully fabricated flat lenses called Fresnel zone plates using industry-standard equipment. These lenses have the potential to revolutionize optics in various fields by reducing space requirements while increasing efficiency, but they currently lack the efficiency of traditional lenses.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalLight Science & Applications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 16, 2025

HKUST engineering researchers develop world’s first deep-UV microLED display chips for maskless photolithography

HKUST researchers created the world's first deep-ultraviolet microLED display array for lithography machines, showcasing enhanced efficiency and viability of maskless photolithography. The innovation features smaller device size, lower driving voltage, higher external quantum efficiency, and larger display resolution.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 29, 2024

Fraunhofer IAF expands technology capabilities for chiplet innovations within the APECS pilot line

The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics is expanding its technology capabilities in chiplet innovations through the APECS pilot line, supported by €4.35 million in funding from Baden-Württemberg. This initiative aims to drive chiplet innovation and increase research and manufacturing capacity for semiconductors in Europe.

NYU Tandon researchers create microchips capable of detecting and diagnosing diseases

Researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering create microchips that can detect multiple diseases from a single air sample, offering faster results and testing for multiple diseases simultaneously. The microchips use field-effect transistors to directly detect biological markers and convert them into digital signals.

SourceNYU Tandon School of Engineering·JournalNanoscale·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 16, 2024

Unlocking next-gen chip efficiency: UVA researchers confirm thermal insights for tiny circuits

Researchers at UVA confirmed a key principle governing heat flow in thin metal films, providing a breakthrough in understanding thermal conductivity. The validation of Matthiessen's rule paves the way for refining materials that interconnect circuits in advanced computer chips.

SourceUniversity of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 11, 2024

A new technology with UPV hallmark improves the accuracy of radars and LiDAR systems, key technologies for autonomous transport and environmental monitoring

A new technology developed by researchers from UPV, BUPT, CAS Institute, Air Force Early Warning Academy and University of Ottawa improves the accuracy of radars and LiDAR systems by up to 14 times, enabling faster and more accurate navigation in autonomous vehicles and detailed environmental studies.

SourceUniversitat Politècnica de València·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 9, 2024

Brighter and more efficient LEDs that don’t droop

A team of researchers at Nagoya University has developed a way to make LEDs brighter while maintaining their efficiency. By tilting the InGaN layers and cutting the wafer into different orientations, they have found that LEDs with lower polarization but in the same direction as standard LEDs show greater efficiency at higher power.

SourceNagoya University·JournalLaser & Photonics Review·DateNov 25, 2024

Atomically dispersed Fe boosting elimination performance of g-C₃N₄ towards refractory sulfonic azo compounds via catalyst-contaminant interaction

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) photocatalyst can be modified with Fe to increase reactive active sites and accelerate charge separation, leading to enhanced self-Fenton reaction and effective elimination of refractory sulfonic azo compounds. The new Fe₁/OPCN composite shows superior removal efficiency under visible light.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalAdvanced Powder Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 14, 2024

New PFAS removal process aims to stamp out pollution ahead of semiconductor industry growth

Researchers at the University of Illinois have created an electrochemical strategy to capture, concentrate, and destroy PFAS from water using a single device. The new process combines redox electrodialysis with electrosorption to effectively remove ultra-short-chain PFAS molecules.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 7, 2024

Unlocking next-gen chip efficiency: UVA researchers confirm thermal insights for tiny circuits

Researchers at the University of Virginia have confirmed a key principle governing heat flow in thin metal films, paving the way for advancements in technology and more efficient devices. The study validated Matthiessen's rule in ultra-thin copper films, providing a blueprint to mitigate thermal bottlenecks.

SourceUniversity of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 4, 2024

UVA engineering professor secures federal small business grant to improve heat management in advanced microelectronics

Professor Patrick E. Hopkins of UVA School of Engineering and Applied Science has secured a $289,830 Small Business Innovation Research grant to develop a precise tool for measuring heat movement in microchips. The technology will enhance cooling and prevent overheating in next-generation devices.

UCSB researchers create the first ever visualization of photoexcited charges traveling across the interface of two semiconductor materials

UCSB researchers used scanning ultrafast electron techniques to visualize fleeting electric charges in semiconductor materials. The study provides direct visual evidence of charge transfer across the interface, shedding light on the behavior of hot photocarriers and their impact on device performance.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 10, 2024

Temporarily apart

Researchers induced fast switching between electrically neutral and charged luminescent particles in an ultra-thin, two-dimensional material. The result opens up new perspectives for optical data processing and flexible detectors.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 27, 2024

Breakthrough in submicron transistor thermal simulation through efficient phonon BTE method

Researchers have developed a novel computational method to simulate heat conduction at the nanoscale, overcoming limitations of traditional models by eliminating empirical parameters and increasing efficiency. This breakthrough enables accurate thermal simulations for complex nanoscale structures, paving the way for designing materials...

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalFundamental Research·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 20, 2024

Molecular level changes translate to big efficiency gains for organic solar cells

Researchers from Osaka University have synthesized a new molecule that increases the power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells. The molecule's design reduces exciton binding energy, making it easier to convert sunlight into current. This breakthrough paves the way for high-performance and large-scale photovoltaic applications.

SourceOsaka University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 10, 2024

Researchers observe floquet states in colloidal nanoplatelets driven by visible pulses

Researchers directly observed Floquet states in colloidal nanoplatelets driven by visible pulses using all-optical spectroscopy. The study provided an all-optical direct observation of Floquet states in semiconductor materials and uncovered rich spectral and dynamic physics of these states.

SourceDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences·JournalNature Photonics·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateAug 21, 2024

Finding pearls in the mud: eco-friendly tungsten recovery from semiconductor waste

Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology have unveiled an eco-friendly method to extract rare metals from semiconductor waste, recovering precious tungsten and assessing its economic viability. The bioleaching process, using a fungus to dissolve metals, is found to be 7% cheaper than traditional methods.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering·DateAug 7, 2024

Novel micro-OLED technology with over 20K ppi resolution

Researchers developed a photolithography-compatible technology for ultra-high-resolution organic semiconductor devices, enabling OLED displays with resolutions of over 20K ppi. This breakthrough addresses the challenge of damaging organic materials during photolithographic processing, paving the way for next-generation displays.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalWearable Electronics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 4, 2024

“Smarter” semiconductor technology for training “smarter” artificial intelligence

Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology have developed a novel analog hardware using ECRAM devices that maximizes AI computational performance. Their technique, which uses a three-terminal structure with separate paths for reading and writing data, demonstrates excellent electrical and switching characteristics.

Novel method enhances size-controlled production of luminescent quantum dots

Researchers at the University of São Paulo developed a novel approach to monitoring quantum dot formation, enabling real-time control over nanoparticle growth and precise emission color. This technique has several advantages over conventional synthesis strategies, including reduced waste and improved equipment efficiency.